UEFA Champions League 2026-27 League Phase Draw: Date, Format and TV Channels

The UEFA Champions League will return for its 2026-27 season with 36 teams set to compete in the league phase, while the draw will determine the path for the clubs involved in Europe's biggest club competition.

The upcoming campaign will be the 72nd edition of the tournament and the 35th since the competition was renamed from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain will enter the competition as the reigning champions after winning the title in each of the last two editions.

When is the Champions League 2026-27 league phase draw?

UEFA has announced that the draw for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase will take place on Thursday, August 27.

The draw will determine the fixtures and routes for the 36 teams taking part in the league phase. However, the final places are still being contested through the qualifying rounds, with the remaining second-leg matches scheduled for August 25 and 26.

How does the Champions League league phase work?

The competition features 36 teams, which are divided into four seeding pots. Each club plays against eight different opponents, with four matches at home and four away.

Every team faces two opponents from each seeding pot, with the draw conducted using a computer-assisted system.

After all league phase matches are completed, the teams finishing from first to eighth place qualify directly for the Champions League round of 16.

Teams placed between ninth and 24th enter a two-legged play-off round, with eight winners progressing to join the eight teams that qualified directly for the round of 16.

The remaining teams are eliminated from European competition, with no transfer to the Europa League.

What are the key Champions League draw dates?

Following the league phase, the draw for the play-off round will take place on January 29, 2027.

The draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled for February 26, 2027, determining the path through the knockout rounds until the final.

When is the Champions League final?

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League final will be played on June 5, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

It will be the second time the stadium has hosted the Champions League final after previously staging the 2019 edition.

What TV channels are broadcasting the Champions League draw?

beIN SPORTS holds the rights to broadcast the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw in the regions covered by its broadcasting agreement.

The draw ceremony will also be shown on the free-to-air beIN Sports News channel and will be available through the TOD TV streaming service.

With the remaining qualifying places still to be decided, the August 27 draw will complete the next major step toward the start of the 2026-27 Champions League season and reveal the league phase schedule for all 36 participating teams.